British Equestrian welcomes a final intake of its highly successful Young Professionals Programme
Monday 21 October 2024
On 15 October, British Equestrian welcomed a new cohort for its Young Professionals Programme, which aims to help young people build a wider skill set to support their personal and career development in the equestrian industry.
This year’s cohort of 16 young people have either recently set up their own equestrian business or are looking to do so in the near future, including Showjumer Eleanor Watson. Over the coming months, they’ll have the opportunity to attend a series of interactive workshops with specialist speakers, covering a broad range of topics essential to running a business. These include contract writing, employment law, conflict management, insurance and finances, and building a personal brand.
Funded by Sport England, the programme is run in conjunction with British Dressage, British Eventing and British Showjumping.
Eleanor, who joined the course from a showjumping background, said: “The induction day was really interesting, even though I am the only showjumper, I am excited to meet people from the other disciplines who may have different thoughts or ways of doing things.
“After I was involved in a previous talent programme where I felt I made some bad business decisions, I have realised what I miss. I am looking forward to coming up with a plan and finding my drive again around people who are all aiming for similar things.
“I’m particularly interested in being able to speak to business advisors who experts in their fields such as accountant and HGV professionals.”
The keynote speaker for the opening session was Jezz Palmer, who was part of the first Young Professionals Programme cohort in 2017. He now runs a dressage training yard in Hampshire with his wife Lucy and recently picked up two titles at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships 2024. In a Q&A session with British Equestrian’s Head of Performance Pathways, David Hamer, Jezz shared some of the lessons he learned during his time on the programme and how they’ve helped him in developing a successful business. He also spoke about his experiences since leaving the programme and the advice he’d give to those starting to build a career in the industry.
“Having learned to ride in a riding school as a child, there was nothing I wanted to do more than work with horses,” Jezz explained. “As I didn’t have any financial backing to buy my own horses to compete, I knew that I had to carve a career in the horse industry that would enable me to fulfil my dream of competing for my country. Being part of the Young Professionals Programme helped me to do that.”
The afternoon session was led by Performance Lifestyle Advisor Jane Holden and focused on performance development. Through a number of practical exercises and open conversations, Jane encouraged everyone in the room to think about the core values make up their individual identities and how these can carry over into their roles as athletes and business people. The next stage was to begin to use these values to put together a personal development plan, which will support their journey through the programme and into the business world.
Since it started in 2017, the Young Professionals Programme has supported over 150 young people to transition away from the youth pathways of British Dressage, British Eventing and British Showjumping and take the next step in achieving their aspirations within the equestrian industry. Like Jezz, many have gone on to develop highly successful international riding careers, which are supported by businesses such as running livery yards, coaching and training services, and providing rehabilitation facilities.
This new intake marks the final time that that programme will run in its current format. From next year, with continued support from Sport England, the format will be adjusted to offer a more flexible delivery model that can offer the right balance of support and education to a broader group of young people.
The 2025 Young Professionals Programme cohort
Showjumping
- Eleanor Watson
Dressage
- Gracie Catling
- Daisy Hills
- Emma Horgan
- Sophie Isaacs
- Anna Roberts
- Bridget Tate
Eventing
- Elizabeth Barratt
- Barnie Brotherton
- Freddie Carden
- Ivy Fisher
- Joel Hart
- Josie Proctor
- Milla Read
- Marianna Sawyer
- Archie Tulloch
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